Andrew Wolpert

Summer 2011

About the Summer Institute

The Department of Classics at the University of Florida has scheduled a two-week intensive summer institute for July 5-15.  The course is specifically designed for those students enrolled in the Distance Learning Program in Classics.  Students not in the Distance Program must obtain the approval of Dr. Wolpert to take the course. Three and six credit options are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and summer credits may be combined with the department’s distance learning courses (offered in Fall and Spring), and applied towards the M.A., M.L., or Ph.D.

Course Description

The ancient economy is, for obvious reasons, a major concern for social historians of classical antiquity. Despite intensive and rigorous study of ancient agriculture, trade, and commerce, central questions concerning ancient economic activity remain unresolved.  Applying approaches from modern studies in sustainability in order to consider traditional questions about the ancient economy in a new light, this course examines (1) how social relations, modes of economic production, and politics, both domestic and foreign, impacted the environment and vice versa; (2) how the ancient Greeks and Romans conceptualized their relationship to the environment; and (3) whether they recognized problems they faced concerning sustainability, and if so, what were the solutions that they proposed. In addition, students will gain a familiarity with academic research methods and theories that are needed to write the MA thesis and PhD dissertation.

Nota Bene: Due to the intensive nature of a research seminar, students are strongly encouraged to read all required and recommended books before the start of the seminar.

Contact Information

Andrew Wolpert, Associate Professor
138 Dauer Hall
wolpert@ufl.edu
Office Hours: M-F 9:00-10:00 am or by appointment

Jeff Yeakel, Teaching Assistant
jeyeakel@ufl.edu
Office Hours: TBA

Texts

Required*

• Bradley, Keith. 1994. Slavery and Society at Rome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Diamond, Jared. 1999. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
• Finley, M. I. 1999. The Ancient Economy. Updated ed. Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Garnsey, Peter. 1999. Food and Society in Classical Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

*Required books should be purchased and read in advance of the seminar.

Recommended*

• Kronenberg, Leah. 2010. Allegories of Farming from Greece and Rome: Philosophical Satire in Xenophon, Varro, and Virgil. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Varro, De Re Rustica (available in the Loeb Classical Series with the work of Cato the Elder).
• Virgil, Georgics.

*Recommended books should be checked out from your local (university) library and read in advance of the seminar.

Course Reserves

• Required books are on reserve in Library West.
• Articles and most other additional readings are available electronically through Ares (“Course Reserves”).
• Ares is accessible off-campus only if you use the UF VPN or the Remote Login.

Course Requirements

• Class Participation (10%) based on participation in morning and afternoon discussions. No unexcused absences.
• Six quizzes (30% total) based on readings and discussions.
• One book review (20%) approximately 1,000 words, due on Saturday, July 9.
• One Term Paper (30%), 1,500-2,000 words (not including footnotes and bibliography), due on Monday, July 18. Close study of a primary text.
• One Presentation (10%) based on term paper.
• RESEARCH PROJECT: For an additional 3 credits, students may further develop their term paper, with more extensive discussion of and engagement with relevant modern scholarship (4,000 words, not including footnotes and bibliography), due on Monday, August 1.

Schedule*

*Mandatory Advisory Sessions: MA and ML distance learning students will be required to sign up for one advising session during the course of the institute with Dr. Yates. Mornings can also be used for graduate qualifying examinations and library visits.

WEEK 1: SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES

Tuesday, July 5: The Modern Dilemma

Grading Scale

A = 90-100
A- = 87-89.9
B+ = 84-86.9
B = 80-83.9
B- = 77-79.9
C+ = 74-76.9
C = 70-73.9
C- = 67-69.9
D+ = 64-66.9
D = 60-63.9%
D- = 57-59.9
E < 57

Policies

• Students are expected to complete all requirements on the specified dates and will not be granted an alternate date unless they have an acceptable reason for their absence as specified in the graduate catalog, fulfill the conditions described therein, and provide timely notification.  See Graduate Catalog.
• The use of cellular devices during class is strictly prohibited.  IN PARTICULAR:  Cellular phones in all of their capacities, email programs, internet browsing of any sort are prohibited.  Refusal to comply results in immediate dismissal from class.  Graduate students may use laptop computers for class discussion of electronic reading assignments.

• Students are required to be honest in their coursework. Any act of academic dishonesty will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs, and may result in failure of the assignement in question and/or the course.  See Honor Code.

• Students seeking special accommodations, need to submit such requests to the Disability Resource Center prior to the deadline of the scheduled requirement, and preferably as early in the Semester as possible.  For further information, see the Disability Resource Center.

• Students facing difficulties completing the course or who are in need of counseling or urgent help may call the on-campus counseling center: 352-392-1575, or the student mental health center: 352-392-1171.

Logistical Information for Distance Students

Orientation and Advising

There will be an orientation for all new distance-learning students. An individual advising session will also be scheduled for all distance-learning students.  Details forthcoming.

Registration

• Florida residents register through the Classics Department, and out-of-state students register through DoCE.

• CLA 6930: Classical Antiquity and Modern Sustainability [course]
• CLA 6905 (3 credit hours): Independent Study [optional extended paper]

Housing and Parking

More information forthcoming.

Questions

Contact the Distance Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Velvet Yates, at vyates@ufl.edu.